ESPN’s Merril Hoge on Collins, Young

Earlier today, I spoke with ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge about a number of Titans issues, including the play of starting quarterback Kerry Collins.

Hoge said Collins deserves some of the blame, but “clearly not all of it.”

“Without him,” Hoge said, “the losses would have been much more drastic. Without him, you have no shot.”

So the Titans made the right decision to stick with Collins?

“Oh good gosh, are you kidding me?” he said. “The other guy (Vince Young) ain’t even close. That’s actually insulting, quite honestly, to anyone who watches football. … It’s not even close.”

Hoge has a history with Young. In 2006, he said the then-rookie quarterback was unprepared to play in the NFL. Hoge also called the decision to start Young, “one of the most unfair and one of the most embarrassing things I’ve seen in football.”

Young has not started since the 2008 regular season opener. Collins took over for an injured Young and has not looked back.

On Wednesday, Collins said he is ignoring pleas from fans for a change at quarterback. And Young said he wants to play, like any NFL player, but he’s not wishing bad luck on his teammate.

“That’s what he should do. That’s what a backup does,” Hoge said of Young’s statement. “You support the guy, and you should be ready to step in if something changes.”

Hoge supported his opinion that Collins is best as a starter, pointing out the 24-17 loss to the Jets on Sept. 27. Titans receivers dropped at least five passes in that game.

“His job is to put the ball where the wide receivers can catch it,” Hoge said. “He did that. He made great throws during the course of that game, and they were dropped. If those catches are made, they probably win that game.”

Collins completed 15 of 37 passes for 170 yards, one score and two interceptions against the Jets. His last 13 passes were incompletions. He did not complete any of his 10 attempts in the fourth quarter.

Entering Sunday night’s game against Indianapolis, Collins has passed for 914 yards, with a 56.9 percent completion rate, five touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s been sacked five times.

“Has he made a few bad decisions? Yes, no question,” Hoge said. “That offensive line has not played on the same level that they’ve played at in the past either. They’ve gotten whipped up front. The last two seasons, they were one of the most underrated offensive lines in the league.”